"Fulfilled with hindrance is the household life, It is the haunt of passion and of wrath. Free is the homeless state from every strife." He, meditating thus, went boldly forth. III. And, going forth, wrong deeds he set aside, Wrong thoughts and words he scattered to the wind, And in a life pure, calm, and sanctified, He found that peace whoever seeks shall find. IV. To Bimbasāra's royal town he went, Where lived the ruler of Magādha-land. Stately he moved, dispassionate, intent, From door to door, an alms-bowl in his hand. V. King Bimbasāra saw him as he crossed Beyond the terraced slopes of his domain. So sweet he looked in meditation lost. The king spake thus to his attendant train: VI. "Be full of care for this most noble man; In outward aspect great, all pure within. His eyes stray not beyond a fathom's span, So guarded moves he in this world of sin. VII. "See how serenely he performs his task; Of Royal birth must be this anchorite. Let the king's messengers run forth and ask, Where wilt thou rest, O mendicant, to-night?" VIII. The messengers, despatched at royal behest, The king's instructions hasten to obey; Then, bowing low, the Bhikshu thus addressed: "Whither, O Bhikshu, dost thou wend thy way?" IX. From house to house he wandered guardedly, And at each door with eyes downcast he stood. Mindful, restrained, dispassionate was he, Filling his alms-bowl with the proffered food. X. His task performed, in meditation deep He left the haunts of men, and silently Set forth to gain Pandāra's caverned steep; Then, turning, said: "My dwelling there shall be." XI. Seeing him stop, the messengers stayed still; One only to the king this message gave: "O king, he sits upon Pandāra's hill, Like to a lion in a mountain cave." XII. The prince forthwith upon his chariot rode, And hastened towards Pandāra's lofty crest; Then, stepping out, along the path he strode To where the mendicant had stopped to rest; XIII. And, bending low, thus spake he to the youth: "Young art thou yet, too delicate to face The life of those who battle for the truth, Thou seeming scion of an ancient race! XIV. "O glory of the vanguard of a band Of heroes onwards pressing to the fray, What is thy lineage, where thy royal land? O let me in these robes thy form array." XV. "Hard by Himaālaya's slopes there dwells, O king, A Sākya race, Kosālas known by name, Descendants of the sun; from these I spring; From these gone forth, I seek not earthly fame. XVI. "Seeing the danger of a carnal life, I have set forth to battle to the end, And in this struggle and protracted strife Raptures ineffable my path attend!" * * * * * Transcriber's Notes Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected.